Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-05-05
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The quiet little hamlet Of Pennsgrovs
was excited Sunday more than on any
occasion for several years, over O large
fire. The blaze was seen by hundreds Of
people in this city about O'Clock In the
evening, who viewed the conflagration
with field and opera glasses from conyen-
lent nights, and many thought that Col.
Frenoh's nice little hotel had been con-
sumed, but investigation proved other
wise. The round-house and one engine
belonging TO the Delaware River railroad
running from Pennsgrove to Woodbury.,
N. j., were burned 70 the ground.
A GAZETTE reporter thinking that the
hotel had been burned went to Penns.
grove in little cunning skif Monday
morning met the smiling colonel in the
hotel, hale, hearty and happy. A Phila-
delphia paper had reported the burning
of the hotel, but the report was contra
dioted as soon as possible.
The scene of the fire was about block
back from the beach and about two blocks
below the hotel. II consisted of two
frame buildings capable Of accommodate
ing three engines. One engine, No. 3,
one third Of the motive power of the
little road, had been placed in the round.
house on Saturday night, her free had
been banked and she was ready to take
out the passenger train this morning
The fire was discovered about 8 80
O'Clock Sunday evening by James Halter,a
fisherman, who stood close by, and he
states that he saw two small boys run
away from the building about the same
time that the fire started. II is thought
that the youngsters in playing with fire
threw some of it into bucket containing
oil and waste which stood near the build
ing. When first seen the blaze was small
and shot up in q straight column. The
alarm was soon given.
The town turned out en- masse to fight
the flames, but the building was dry and
burned like finder. Buckets of water
were thrown on, and an engine near by
threw small stream on from her injector.
The flames blazed high, and the people
then turned their attention TO prevent
their spread and succeeded.
Had the fire reached the coal bins it
would have communicated to the oil
soaked GROSS ties and undoubtedly would
have come mp to the station. The people
stood by and watched the flames lick up
all the material within reach. At the be-
ginning, when the fire had not yet
spread far, Charles Raine, the fireman Of
the burnt engine, who boards but 100
yards from the round-house, had
Just left his supper to go over
to his engine, when he saw the
blaze. He rushed into the building and
pulled open. the throttle, but
the banked fire had generated but little
steam and she did not bulge. After
laboring but few moments the flames
rapidly spread over the only exit, and
Raine was warned of his danger. He was
forced to run through the fire, but
escaped uninjured. The engine was
totally destroyed, and was valued at
$4,000.
Hardly vestige Of the building re-
manned. The total loss will aggregate
between So, 900 and SIC, 900, which is In
sured although to what extent could not
be ascertained. e. ii. Green, the super
intendent of the railroad arrived there
from Pedricktown Monday morning and
viewed the remains. The insurance men
have not been on the ground. The
trains are running on time as usual.